Hibiscus plant named ‘Oak Soft Pink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Oak Soft Pink’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant form; oak leaf-shaped leaves; freely flowering habit; large light red purple-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; and good flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus moscheutos.

Cultivar denomination: ‘OAK SOFT PINK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscusplant, botanically known as Hibiscus moscheutos and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Oak Soft Pink’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new Hibiscus plants with attractiveand large flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination in August,2009 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection ofHibiscus moscheutos identified as code number CB10, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Extrepink’, disclosedin U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,130, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newHibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands inAugust, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative cuttings ina controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands sinceSeptember, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Oak Soft Pink’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Oak Soft Pink’ as a new and distinctHibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant form.    -   2. Oak leaf-shaped leaves.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large light red purple-colored flowers with dark red-colored        centers.    -   5. Good flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are larger than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the female parent selection        differ in leaf shape as plants of the female parent selection        have cordate-shaped leaves.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus have larger flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the female parent selection        differ slightly in flower color.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent,‘Extrepink’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of‘Extrepink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Extrepink’ differ in leaf        shape as plants of ‘Extrepink’ have cordate-shaped leaves.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have lighter-colored flowers than        plants of ‘Extrepink’.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of Hibiscusmoscheutos ‘Mauvelous’, not patented. Plants of the new Hibiscus differprimarily from plants of ‘Mauvelous’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Mauvelous’ differ in leaf        shape as plants of ‘Mauvelous’ have rounded leaves.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Mauvelous’ differ slightly in        leaf color.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Mauvelous’ differ slightly in        flower color as plants of ‘Mauvelous’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Oak Soft Pink’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Oak Soft Pink’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late summer in five-litercontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices which closely approximate commercialHibiscus production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 18° C. to 33° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom 18° C. to 25° C. Plants were 14 weeks old when the photographs andthe description were taken. In the description, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Oak Soft Pink’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            moscheutos identified as code number CB10, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Extrepink’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,130.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at            temperatures of 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at            temperatures of 19° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white to            light brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright and somewhat outwardly            spreading plant form, broad inverted triangular plant form;            moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Moderate branching habit, usually about            nine lateral branches develop; pinching enhances lateral            branch development.        -   Plant height.—About 70.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 78.8 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 59.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 144A to 144B flushed with close to 152A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.        -   Length.—About 13.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 9.9 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate, lobed; oak leaf-shaped.        -   Apex.—Long apiculate.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Bluntly dentate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C; venation,            close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Between            138B and 147B; venation, close to 145B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 7.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Large rotate flowers arranged singly at            terminal leaf axils; freely flowering habit with about 50            flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly outwardly            to slightly upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity.—Good flower longevity, flowers last for            about four days; flowers not persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower from late summer            into the autumn in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering            about ten weeks after planting.        -   Flower diameter.—About 20.3 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 4.6 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about four            days. Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 3.1 cm. Shape:            Ovate. Color: Close to 143B to 143C; towards the apex, close            to between 63A and 70D.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals in a            single whorl; petals imbricate. Length: About 9.9 cm. Width:            About 10.2 cm. Shape: Reniform to nearly orbicular. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; rugose. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 73B;            towards the base, close to 75B to 75C; base, close to 46A to            46C; venation, close to 68A; color becoming closer to 73A            with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 65B; towards the apex, close to 65A;            towards the base, close to 155B.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 3.6 cm. Width: About            2.1 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Abruptly acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            immature and mature, upper surface: Close to 143C. Color,            immature and mature, lower surface: Close to 143B to 143C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Angle: About 30° from the lateral branch axis. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close            to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 150. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color:            Close to 155A. Anther shape: Orbicular. Anther length: About            2 mm. Anther color: Close to 52B. Amount of pollen:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 11C to 11D. Gynoecium:            Pistil length: About 4.5 cm. Style length: About 4.3 cm.            Style color: Close to 155C. Stigma appearance: Five-parted,            club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 160C. Ovary color: Close            to 149B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Hibiscus.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to    USDA Hardiness Zone 6.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Oak SoftPink’ as illustrated and described.